Steam-plow



' 4S1ieets-Sheet 1. T. 'I'. WOOD.

STEAM PLOW.

Patented July 22, 1884.

(No Model.)

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4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

T. T. WGOD.

STEAM PLOW.

Patente Juul-y 22 (No Model.) 4 Shets-She-t 3.

T. T. WOOD.

STEAM PLOW.,y

Pa'ented July 22, 1884.

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((No Model.) Tl WOOD. r 4 sneets-sneet 4Q STEAM PLOW. Y No. 302,370. Patented July 22,1884.

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U'NrTn-ri STATES 'PATENT Trice.

rHoMAsTr-mononn woon, or KEOKUK, iowa.

' STEAM- PLOW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 302,370, dated July 22, 1884.

Application fna october i3, less. (No model.)

To all 1071/0711/ it may concern:

Be it ,known that I, THoMrs Trrnononn WOOD, a citizen of the UnitedStates of Amerl ica, residing at Keokuk, in the county of Lee and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Flows, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

rlhis invention relates to certain improvements in steam-plows, as will be hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l represents in perspective my improved plow. Fig. l' represents -a top plan. Fig. 2 represents aside elevation; Fig. 3 representsin perspective to an enlarged scale one end of the frame,with the thereto attached plows, plow-beams,.and devices for operating and adjusting the same. Fig. 4E represents a cross-section on the line 4L A representsthe frame, which is of rectangular form, as shown, and has at each end cross-beam B, from the under side of which depend straps or hangersC, having slots or holes a. i

D D represent the plow-beams, which have at their front ends a slot or hole, and are pivotally secured within and between each pair of straps C by means of pin b.

Attached to each beam D is an eye, c, to which is connected one end of a chain or cord, d, which passes from thence to and over a segment, E, mountedV upon or attached to a transverse rock-shaft, F, the opposite end of each chain or cord being attachedl to said segment. Each segment has a groove in its outer curved edge, within which the chain or cord d rests, and which serves to hold said cord securely in position at all times. The cord or chain (Z is attached to the rear of the segmentand in line with the groove therein, and has no movement independently of said segment; consequently it will rest Within said groove at all times, and the groove thus holds the cords and affordsa more perfect guide vthereto than would be the case did the chain Vor cord slide along the groove independently of the rocking motion of said segments. Vhere the chains are drawn over sheaves, they are apt to slip out of the groove and become disarranged-a disadvantage avoided by my arrangement. This rock-l shaft has bearing in blocks e, mounted upon the side bars, G, ofthe frame, and has a handle or lever, f, which has a vertical slot, g,

through which passes a slotted or perforated segment or arm, H.

h represents a piu, adapted to pass through the slots or holes in the quadrant H, and thereby hold the lever or handle j" and its connected rock-shaft in position.

I I represent the plowshares attached to the rear ends of the beams D by the customary standards, or in any other suitable way.

J represents a forked guide-bar attached to the outer ends of the side bars, G, the lingers or prongs t' depending therefrom in pairs, between whi'ch the plow-beams are supported and slide. A By pivoting the plow-beams D within the slotted hangers G and connecting them by means of a chain or cord with the segmentcarrying rock-shaft, I am enabled to raise and lower the plow beams and shares and adjust them to any height desired. By the employment of the slotted hangers I am enabled to regulate the height of each plow-beam and shaft independently of the others, thereby adapting the machine to form furrows of different depths simultaneously. Any desired number of beams and sha-res may be mounted at each end, as occasion may require, the number of segments E, straps or hangers C, and

guide-prongs t' corresponding with the nuniber of plow-beams employed. By supplying the frame A with these described arrange- `ments of plow beams and shares, rock-shaft, Etc., at each end, it will be observed that I am enabled to use the machine in whichever direction it may stand without being under the necessity of turning it around whenever plowing has to be done in opposite directions.

K and L represent traction-wheels, which are constructed, preferably, in the manner shown and described in my Patent No. 247, 792, granted 'October l, 1881. The wheels K K are mounted upon a short transverse axle, M, and haveon their outer faces a ring or disk, j, having grooved outer edge, k. The wheels L L are mounted upon an axle, N, somewhat longer than axle M, in order that the several wheels K and L may be mounted near together in the framing and centrally of the machine. By this means I am enabled to insure the steadi- IOO ness of motion of the machine, as by the arrangement of the wheels, however unequal the ground may be, one set of wheels will always have bearing upon the ground, even should the inequality of the ground be such as to cause the other set of wheels to be out of frictional contact therewith.

Z represents a disk or ring upon the inner face of 'each wheel L, and having a circumferential groove, m.

a represents a band passing around the grooved disks j Z, for the purpose of transmitting motion from one set ofwheels to the other set. a The disk Z is recessed interiorly for the reception of the enlarged 4end of a short loose shaft, o, having upon its inner end a pulley or gear, p. This shaft and gear is hollow and is loosely mounted upon an arbor or spindle,

q, projecting from the outer face of the side bars, G

O represents a transverse shaft, having bearing in blocks r, mounted upon the side bars, G.

s represents pulleys or gears mounted upon the ends of the shaft O, and having frictional contact with the pulleys or gears p.

l) represents another cross-shaft, journaled in bearings t upon the cross-beam a, and having friction-disks or gear-wheels c, which mesh with gears w, mounted upon the shaft O within the side bars, G.

Q Q represent steam cylinders mounted upon the side bars, G, and having suitable connecting rods or pistons, S, which connect with the gears w', so that upon the boiler being started and the pistons set in motion they will rotate the gears c, and they in their turn will impart motion to the gears w, which in their turn will rotate the shaft O, and cause the wheels or gears s to revolve the pulley or gear p, and thereby impart rotary motion to the traction-wheels L, the motion of which is, transmitted by the banda to the wheel K.

The vertical boiler R has gimbal-bearings upon the cross-beam u. By this means the vertical position of said boiler will always be maintained, however rough may be the road traversed, and however irregular the movements of the supporting-frame may be. T T represent vertically-adjustable rollers, of which there are two mounted upon shaft x, near each end of the machine. These rollers have a broad tread, as shown, for the double purpose of affording support to the machine and preventing its sinking into moist or soft earth.

U represents a spring-encircled arbor or spindle, which is connected at its lower end to the shaft x, and at its upper end passes through and is keyed within asleeve or socket, V, on one of the cross-beams of the frame. Any suitable device may be connected-with the upper end of each arbor or spindle U for the purpose of turning itsidewise in either direction, by which means said rollers also serve as guide-rollers for guiding the machine in the desired direction. Thespring y,encircling the spindle or arbor U, has a constant tendreason of l ency to press the shaft a', and consequently the rollers T, down, by which means the tread of said rollers upon the ground will always be regularly even.

By arranging the traction-wheels K and L t wheels mounted on the shorter axle, by which means yone set of wheelswill always t'ravel upon the unplowed ground at the outside of the furrows.

In lieu of the quadrant H and lever or handlef, a tangent screw and wheel may be employed.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim therein isl. A steam-plow having two pairs of drive or traction wheels mounted centrally of the framing upon axles of unequal length, for the purpose of affording a central support at the heaviest part thereof,substantially as set forth.

2. ln a steam-plow, the combination of the traction-wheels K, having a short transverse axle, and on their outer faces a grooved ring or disk, j 7c, the traction-wheels L, mounted upon a longer axle than the axle of the wheels K, and having on their inner faces a grooved ring or disk, Z m, and a band connecting said grooved disks, for the purpose of transmitting motion from one pair of traction-wheels to the other pair, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the traction-wheels K andL and means, substantially as described, for connecting the same together, of the loosely-mounted shaft o, adapted to engage with the traction-wheels K, and having upon its outer ends pulleys or gears p, shaft O, having a pulley or gear, s, at each end to engage the pulleys or gears on the shaft o and gears fw, shaft P, having gears c, which engage with the gears w, and means, substantially as described, for operating the gears w, as set forth.

Ll. A steam-plow having traction -wheels mounted upon shafts of unequal length, and centrally of the frame, and frame supporting and guiding rollers T, mounted in pairsupon vertical shafts fr', near the center of the frame, each having a spring-encircled karbor or spindle, connected at its lower end to the shaft fr', and at its upper end keyed within a sleeve or socket, V, on the frame, said rollers T having a broad tread, for the purpose of affording support to the machine and preventing its sinking into the earth, and being adapted to be turned sidewise for the purpose of guiding the machine, substantially as set forth.

5. A steam-plow having two pairs of drive or traction wheels, each pair being mounted centrally of the machine upon axles of different length, one pair having a grooved rim or disk, j, on their inner faces, andthe other pair IOC) IIO

a similar rim orkdisk, Z, on their outer faces, said disks being connected together by a band, n, whereby rotary motion is transmitted from one pair of traction-Wheels tothe other pair, and means, substantially as described, for driving the operative pair of traction-Wheels, as set forth.

6. The combination, in a steam-plow, with the frame A, of the traction-Wheels L, each having a ring or circumferential flange, l, on its inner face, arbor or spindle q, projecting out- Wardly from the side bar of the frame, shaft o, loosely mounted upon said spindle q, and having anenlarged outer end adapted to engage with the inner face of said flange Z, and a pulley or gear, p, near its inner end, shaft O, having at each end a pulley or gear, s, adapted to engage With thepulleys or gears 1), and means, substantially as described, for imparting motion to shaft O, as and for the purpose set forth. l

In testimony whereof l affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS THEO. WOOD.

VVituesses:

O. S. DAVIS,

H.A A. DIoKnnsoN. 

